Everlasting paper?

[Gerardo]

Have a look at this model.

Like I mention there, I use this model in a daily basis. I folded the one I use in a two-colored thin cardboard. After a couple of months it's in a pretty bad shape. What material could I use for it to last A LOT more, even if I use it daily?

I thought of something like creating a sandwich paper out of two layers of cloth (the kind used for shirts) and aluminium foil in the middle. Do you think that could work? I've never even made a common sanwich paper before, but I think that could be the solution.

Any thoughts?

[jewishdan18]

What time frame your you really talking here? Nothing will last forever. The cloth sandwich might work, but the foil in the middle will eventually deteriorate (Especially if it is being fatigued daily). The cloth will also eventually wear out and/or fade (After very much use). I'm also not sure of the best way to bond cloth to something else in a manner that will leave it flexible enough to fold. I'm sure there are glues out there that will work nicely.

[Gerardo]

Thanks for your answer. I don't have a concrete answer, but I suppose I would be happy if it lasted a couple of years instead of a couple of months. Do you have any ideas?

People in the Spanish forum have a couple and I once saw a two-colored plastic like wrapping paper; it couldn't hold a fold, but because of the kind of model it might stay together.

I appreciate any ideas.

[Axel´s Origami]

Triple tissue (tissue-unryu-tissue). Iron it from time to time to keep shape.

[phillipcurl]

You could try using mc on cloth

[metrodj]

How about Tyvek?

[steingar]

I have paper pouches made from wallpaper that I've used for decades. One went to southern Mexico and back with me. I have models made from Elephant Hide that have gone through two decades and three moves.

[jewishdan18]

I think the biggest issue is that it will be "used" every day. I think any paper will deteriorate rapidly if it is fatigued every day (Though I don't know if it is a simple fold once a day, or something sliding into a pocket to lock, or something different). I'd say cloth is the best option, with some sort of adhesive. I don't think MC would hold cloth very well, but white glue might.

The material on the spanish forum might have been some sort of colored cellophane? That might wear well, but if is really bad at holding folds. Its also quite cheap, so it might be worth a shot!

[mirrorspock]

I work at a logistics company, one of customers is Yupo, they make a Plastik Paper which seems almost indestructible it's untearable), I used it a few times and IF you get it folded it should last a long long time.

[Gerardo]

This is HOW YOU FOLD the model I use daily.

Someone in the Spanish forum mentioned something like cork paper. It's supposed to be very resistant. Does anyone know something about this paper?

Axel´s Origami: I've found something I think is unryu in a stationery shop. It's being sold as a kind of wrapping paper. It's a kind of cloth-paper, right? I don't like the fact you can look through it and it doesn't seem to hold a fold; the crease mark stays but it starts to open by the crease. Still, I like the fact that I know where to find it.

metrodj: Tyvek sounds like an excellent idea. Does it come in different colors? Would I have to damage an envelope to get some paper? There's also the fact that I live in south america, I think envelopes here are made out of plain paper.

steingar: I found a bit of wall paper lying around, I'm gonna give it a try, but it does seem to tear. Unfortunatelly the bit I got is way small to make the model the right size. It will look way cool though, the wall paper is blue and has like clouds, stars, moons and suns.
PS: I've been trying to reach you through mail! Have you seen my messages?

jewishdan18: I might end up using the idea of cloth with white glue. I gotta say, I suck at using glue and stuff like that (I guess that's why I like origami ). And no, the plastic like wrapping paper wasn't cellophane. It was light blue in one side and light pink the other. It was a kind of hard plastic, like paper in a way, but lighter. I'm not too fond of the colors, but I think it's cool it's two-colored. And just like in the case of the cloth like paper, after I tried folding it, the "paper" starts to open but the crease mark stays.

mirrorspock: Yupo seems like a way cool paper. Does it come in different colors? Can you find it in a stationery shop?

[Gerardo]

So the paper I was talking you about is called two-colored synthetic paper. I checked out it in the web and they specially sell it for making bouquets, since it doesn't matter if it gets wet.

I bought a big piece and cut the square I needed. To my surprise, I didn't have any trouble folding it. The problem is its colors, it's like a bad coat of painting. In that very day the paint started to fall from the borders of the model and it's surface started to get scratches just from it's contact with my backpack. By the way, it looks like some kind of metal underneath the paint, but it doesn't fold like one; it folds more like plastic or something like that. Anyway, so the paper won't rip, but it will loose its paint in no time.

I'll use a coating of transparent paint on both sides to see if that'll protect the paper's colors. I'll let you know what happens .

[Fluffy]

Ok

[Gerardo]

It's been 11 days since I made the test. The paint did reduce it's tendency to loose it's color but it didn't stop it completely. It's still got scratches during this time, just not as frequently.

Today I started a second test, giving it more layers of the transparent spray paint. Let's see how that goes.

A person in the Spanish forum suggested me to use something called guaflex or surfex. If the paint doesn't work, I wanna try this instead. I think I won't have too much trouble finding this material, it's used for the exterior layer of some hard cover books.

I'll keep you posted

[Gerardo]

This is how the model looks after only a couple of weeks, folded with the synthetic two-colored paper I used:



NO GOOD!

I now bought the material used in covers to turn printed documents into books. It seems to be called guaflex in Spanish. It seems to be a plastic material, imitating leather, pasted over a layer of common paper. I'll fold the model on Monday and tell you what happens.

I'm expecting the common paper layer to be the problem,¿... we'll see .

[Gerardo]

Ok, two months have passed since I started to use the model folded using "guaflex":



Its appearance is MUCH better than the one I used folded with synthetic two-colored paper, after only a couple of weeks! Still, my suspicions ended up being true. The common paper layer is deteriorating, although only in the crease borders.

It still isn't the eternal paper I was looking for, but I think I can work with it. The next test will start after I add a layer of adhesive contact paper on top of the common paper layer. Let's hope that the contact paper is resistant enough to turn it into the "eternal paper" I was looking for .

I'll let you know latter.